Thomas "Tom" L. Maloney

The Lord took Thomas “Tom” Lee Maloney home peacefully, at NKC Hospice, on June 26th, 2025 surrounded by a loving family. Tom was 87 years old. The visitation service will commence at 10am followed by the celebration of life at 11am on Thursday, July 3 at Terrace Park Funeral Home & Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri. The burial will be after the service at Terrace Park.

Tom was born on August 2nd, 1938 in Neosho, Missouri. He grew up in a family with three sisters and two brothers. Tom grew up on a farm in Noel, Missouri. He graduated from Noel High School in 1956. After high school Tom moved to Kansas City and began work as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service in 1958. He was drafted in the Army in October of 1961 and did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Tom was stationed in Germany for 18 months with Company B, 1st Battalion - 7th Infantry. He enjoyed his time in the military because he was stationed in Europe and loved seeing all the sites.

In October 1963 he was discharged from the Army and moved back to Kansas City where he was a mail carrier in the Westport neighborhood of Kansas City, MO. Tom also carried the mail in Lake Waukomis for 28 years. Incredibly he worked for the United States Post Office for 45 years, retiring in 2003.

Tom married Joan Melton in 1971. Joan and Tom, known as Momo and Popo, cared for Cassandra Habel, Stephanie Garrett, Trisha Vassmer, Crystal Marticke, Heather Smith, Susie Hispanski, David Hispanski, and Steve Hispanski as their own and considered them family. Tom had a huge heart and loved to spoil them whenever he could. Joan died in 2004 after 33 years of marriage to Tom.

In retirement Tom continued to be active in the community and with his family. Tom volunteered with the St. Vincent De Paul food pantry (located at the St. Therese Catholic Parish) for many years helping to feed folks in the Northland of Kansas City. At the pantry he met Rhonda Capps. Tom and Rhonda were married in 2011. Tom and Rhonda went on several tour bus trips covering pretty much all of the lower 48 states in their travels. Tom had a heart of gold and always looked for ways he could help make the lives of those around him better.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, John Glennon and Evelyn Gertrude Wooters, brothers John Glennon and James Allan, sisters Evelyn Ruth and Frances Helen, and wife Joan.

Tom is survived by his wife Rhonda Maloney, Kansas City, Missouri, step children Michele and Darren Baker, Gladstone, Missouri, Jason and Tonya Capps, Puyallup, Washington, Rochele and James Lighthill, Kansas City, Missouri, and sister, Mary Latty, Wichita, Kansas. He has many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and friends that loved him and will miss him deeply.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Carl Meyers - Tom’s family doctor for three decades and his long-time nurse Tammy. Special thanks to Kansas City Hospice, for providing exceptional care and support in Tom’s final days. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you make a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and/or St. Vincent De Paul’s Food Pantry.